Clog resistant in-line vortex element irrigation emitter

Abstract

A clog resistant in-line vortex emitter and drip irrigation assembly and method uses a double-sided circuit and a series of vortex chambers of optimized dimensions to create a pressure drop with large dimensions and good clog resistance. The vortex chamber 100 also al lows for a lower exponent than traditional circuits. This gives a pressure regulating property to the no-moving-parts circuit. The vortex emitter allows for some pressure regulation without sacrificing recyclability or requiring moving parts. The vortex circuit of the present disclosure is optimized for an emitter efficiency Ef value wherein Ef=(k/Ackt)*Amin such that k is a unitless head loss coefficient, Ackt is the area of the circuit, and Amin is the minimum cross sectional area of the circuit. A higher k per a given area with larger dimensions allows for a smaller part with a lower chance of clogging.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vortex emitter assembly for an in-line irrigation tube comprising:
 a unitary body defining an inlet on a first surface of the unitary body, an outlet on a second surface opposite the first surface and a multi-lumen flow channel therebetween providing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet; 
 wherein said unitary body is configured as a double-sided circuit and a plurality of vortex chambers with lumens aligned in series; 
 each vortex chamber of said plurality of vortex chambers includes an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat, the inlet region is in fluid communication with the interaction region through the power nozzle, the power nozzle is defined by an opposite wall that extends between the inlet region and the interaction region and an apex; and 
 a convergence angle defined by a perimeter wall of each said vortex chamber that extends from the apex of the power nozzle along the inlet region and the opposite wall along the inlet region, wherein said convergence angle is between about 45° to about 80° such that the inlet region has a different shape than the interaction region along the convergence angle; 
 wherein said plurality of vortex chambers include dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow and wherein the vortex emitter assembly is configured to be attached to an inner surface of an in-line irrigation tube so that the second surface is facing the inner surface of the in-line irrigation tube. 
 
     
     
       2. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the apex is round. 
     
     
       3. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said convergence angles of said plurality of vortex chambers and lumens are optimized and configured to create converging vortices and flows. 
     
     
       4. A vortex emitter assembly for an in-line irrigation tube comprising:
 a vortex circuit having a unitary body including a double sided circuit having a plurality of vortex chambers with multi-lumen flow channels therebetween providing fluid communication between an inlet on a first surface of the unitary body and an outlet on a second surface opposite the first surface of the unitary body; 
 at least one vortex chamber of the plurality of vortex chambers includes an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat having dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow therein; and 
 wherein a convergence angle is defined by a perimeter wall of said at least one vortex chamber that extends from an apex of the power nozzle along the inlet region and an opposite wall along the inlet region, wherein said convergence angle is between about 45° to about 80° such that the inlet region has a different shape than the interaction region; wherein said vortex emitter assembly is configured to be attached to an inner surface of an in-line irrigation tube so that the second surface is facing the inner surface of the in-line irrigation tube. 
 
     
     
       5. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 4  further comprising a filter component and a pressure compensating component. 
     
     
       6. An in-line irrigation tube system comprising at least one vortex emitter assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a tube having an inner surface wherein a plurality of vortex emitter assemblies are positioned along said inner surface of said tube. 
     
     
       7. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said convergence angle is about 55°. 
     
     
       8. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 4  wherein said power nozzle includes a width (Pw) and a depth (Pd) wherein said power nozzle width (Pw) includes a ratio with said power nozzle depth (Pd) that is in the range of about 0.75:1 to about 1.25:1. 
     
     
       9. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 8  said power nozzle width (Pw) includes a ratio with said power nozzle depth (Pd) that is about 1:1. 
     
     
       10. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 4  wherein said interaction region includes a diameter (IRD) and the power nozzle includes a width (Pw) wherein said interaction region diameter (IRD) includes a ratio with said power nozzle width (Pw) that is in the range of about 2:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
       11. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 10  wherein said ratio between said interaction region diameter (IRD) and said power nozzle width (Pd) is about 2.15:1. 
     
     
       12. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said interaction region includes a diameter (IRD) and the throat includes a diameter (Td) wherein said interaction region diameter (IRD) includes a ratio with said throat diameter (Td) that is in the range of about 1.49:1 to about 3.89:1. 
     
     
       13. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said ratio between said interaction region diameter (IRD) and said throat diameter (Td) is about 2.69:1. 
     
     
       14. A vortex emitter assembly for an in-line irrigation tube comprising:
 a backing plate; 
 a vortex circuit having a unitary body with a plurality of vortex chambers defined along a first surface and a plurality of vortex chambers defined along a second surface opposite the first surface; 
 wherein each vortex chamber of the plurality of vortex chambers includes an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat having dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow therein; 
 wherein a convergence angle is defined by a perimeter wall of at least one of the vortex chambers that extends from an apex of the power nozzle along the inlet region and an opposite wall along the inlet region, wherein said convergence angle is between about 45° to about 80° such that the inlet region has a different shape than the interaction region; 
 a support plate; wherein the backing plate is attached to the first surface of the vortex circuit and the support plate is attached to the second surface of said vortex circuit; 
 a filter component in fluid communication with the vortex circuit; and 
 a pressure compensating component in fluid communication with the vortex circuit; 
 wherein said vortex emitter assembly is configured to be attached to an inner surface of an in-line irrigation tube so that the second surface is facing the inner surface of the in-line irrigation tube. 
 
     
     
       15. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said power nozzle includes a width (Pw) and a depth (Pd), and wherein said power nozzle width (Pw) includes a ratio with said power nozzle depth (Pd) that is in the range of about 0.75:1 to about 1.25:1. 
     
     
       16. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said interaction region includes a diameter (IRD) and the power nozzle includes a width (Pw), and wherein said interaction region diameter (IRD) includes a ratio with said power nozzle width (Pw) that is in the range of about 2:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
       17. The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said interaction region includes a diameter (IRD) and the throat includes a diameter (Td), and wherein said interaction region diameter (IRD) includes a ratio with said throat diameter (Td) that is in the range of about 1.49:1 to about 3.89:1.